The Otago Primary & Intermediate School Teams Championship 2009 held last month attracted fifteen teams from twelve schools. The venue was once again the Otago Boys High School Library, and the teams played in a single tournament with two grades: Intermediate (up to year 8) and Primary (year 6 and below). Although defending champions DNI Black had a complete stranglehold on the trophy in previous years, this year they faced a strong challenge from Bamacewen A, boasting three Otago Chess Club members on the top boards. These two teams met in round four, resulting in a 3-1 win to Balmacewen A, giving them a lead of 4½ points, which they extended to finish on a formidible total of 22/24. Next came DNI Black on 15½ in second place, East Taieri on 15 in third and Maori Hill fourth on 14 points. East Taieri were the winners of the Primary grade ahead of Maori Hill in second place. Top individual scrers were Joseph Brown, Joel Smith and Chris Cho (boards 1-3, Balmacewen A) as well as Mark Robertson (board 2 East Taieri) all on 6/6.
Meanwhile the Oceania Zonal finished at Tweed Heads on Australia's Gold Coast. The result was a triumph for Australian grandmaster-elect, David Smerdon, who finished on 7½/9, a point clear of a large bunch in second place. In today's game Smerdon (playing White) shows his ability to win clutch games with this final-round victory over fellow Australian FM Tomek Rej. The notes owe a debt to GM Ian Rogers' live commentary of the event.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qf3!? ---
When Garry Kasparov first started repopularising the Scotch Opening during his world title matches against Karpov, 6 Qd2 was considered standard, but the endgame which arises after 6.Qf3 has been shown to be not without its dangers for Black.. 6. --- Qxf3 7. gxf3 bxc6 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Ne7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. f4 d6 12. Rg1 ---
Although the position looks innocuous, White's pawn centre and early control of the half-open g file restricts Black's minor pieces. So Black claims some central space with his next move. 12. --- f5 13. Bc4+ Kh8 14. e5! ---
A remarkable pawn sacrifice, to take control of Black's pieces' best squares and open the d-file. 14. --- dxe5 15. O-O-O Ng6 16. Rd3! e4
Not falling for 16 ... exf4? when we have the position in today's diagram. White then wins a piece by 17 Rxg6! since 17 ... hxg6?? 18 exf4 forces mate. 17. Rd2 Nh4 18. Rgd1 g6?!
This looks really ugly - when White gets the seventh rank after 19 Rd8 Bb7 20 R8d7, he will be able to keep the Black king in a cage. Presumably Black intended to keep control of d7 with the bishop, missing the loss of a piece. 19. Rd8! Kg7? 20. Rxf8 Kxf8 21. Rd8+ Ke7 22. Rh8 h5
Defending against the fork 23 Rxh7+, but not the pin. 23. Ba6 Nf3
Black is banking everything on a fast-running h-pawn. Instead 23 ... Bxa6 only losing the exchange would offer little hope as the White rook is far too strong. 24. h3 Kf6
Now White can safely exchange rooks on c8 and bring his king across to stop any dangerous Black pawns. 24 ... Kd7 does not save Black due to 25 Na4 Ng1 26 Bxc8+! Rxc8 27 Nc5+ Kd6 28 Nxe4+ fxe4 29 Rxc8 Nxh3 30 Rg8 with an easy win. 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Bxc8 g5 27. Ne2 Nh2 28. Ng3 g4?
Black was also running low on time at this point. 29. Nxh5+ Kg6 30. Ng3 Resigns
1-0
Solution: 1 Rxg6! wins the knight as 1 ... hxg6?? 2 exf4 forces mate by Rh3.
More school teams and Oceania Zonal
Problem: White to play and win a piece.
The Otago Primary & Intermediate School Teams Championship 2009 held last month attracted fifteen teams from twelve schools. The venue was once again the Otago Boys High School Library, and the teams played in a single tournament with two grades: Intermediate (up to year 8) and Primary (year 6 and below). Although defending champions DNI Black had a complete stranglehold on the trophy in previous years, this year they faced a strong challenge from Bamacewen A, boasting three Otago Chess Club members on the top boards. These two teams met in round four, resulting in a 3-1 win to Balmacewen A, giving them a lead of 4½ points, which they extended to finish on a formidible total of 22/24. Next came DNI Black on 15½ in second place, East Taieri on 15 in third and Maori Hill fourth on 14 points. East Taieri were the winners of the Primary grade ahead of Maori Hill in second place. Top individual scrers were Joseph Brown, Joel Smith and Chris Cho (boards 1-3, Balmacewen A) as well as Mark Robertson (board 2 East Taieri) all on 6/6.
Meanwhile the Oceania Zonal finished at Tweed Heads on Australia's Gold Coast. The result was a triumph for Australian grandmaster-elect, David Smerdon, who finished on 7½/9, a point clear of a large bunch in second place. In today's game Smerdon (playing White) shows his ability to win clutch games with this final-round victory over fellow Australian FM Tomek Rej. The notes owe a debt to GM Ian Rogers' live commentary of the event.
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 exd4
4. Nxd4 Bc5
5. Nxc6 Qf6
6. Qf3!? ---
When Garry Kasparov first started repopularising the Scotch Opening during his world title matches against Karpov, 6 Qd2 was considered standard, but the endgame which arises after 6.Qf3 has been shown to be not without its dangers for Black..
6. --- Qxf3
7. gxf3 bxc6
8. Be3 Bxe3
9. fxe3 Ne7
10. Nc3 O-O
11. f4 d6
12. Rg1 ---
Although the position looks innocuous, White's pawn centre and early control of the half-open g file restricts Black's minor pieces. So Black claims some central space with his next move.
12. --- f5
13. Bc4+ Kh8
14. e5! ---
A remarkable pawn sacrifice, to take control of Black's pieces' best squares and open the d-file.
14. --- dxe5
15. O-O-O Ng6
16. Rd3! e4
Not falling for 16 ... exf4? when we have the position in today's diagram. White then wins a piece by 17 Rxg6! since 17 ... hxg6?? 18 exf4 forces mate.
17. Rd2 Nh4
18. Rgd1 g6?!
This looks really ugly - when White gets the seventh rank after 19 Rd8 Bb7 20 R8d7, he will be able to keep the Black king in a cage. Presumably Black intended to keep control of d7 with the bishop, missing the loss of a piece.
19. Rd8! Kg7?
20. Rxf8 Kxf8
21. Rd8+ Ke7
22. Rh8 h5
Defending against the fork 23 Rxh7+, but not the pin.
23. Ba6 Nf3
Black is banking everything on a fast-running h-pawn. Instead 23 ... Bxa6 only losing the exchange would offer little hope as the White rook is far too strong.
24. h3 Kf6
Now White can safely exchange rooks on c8 and bring his king across to stop any dangerous Black pawns. 24 ... Kd7 does not save Black due to 25 Na4 Ng1 26 Bxc8+! Rxc8 27 Nc5+ Kd6 28 Nxe4+ fxe4 29 Rxc8 Nxh3 30 Rg8 with an easy win.
25. Rxc8 Rxc8
26. Bxc8 g5
27. Ne2 Nh2
28. Ng3 g4?
Black was also running low on time at this point.
29. Nxh5+ Kg6
30. Ng3 Resigns
1-0
Solution: 1 Rxg6! wins the knight as 1 ... hxg6?? 2 exf4 forces mate by Rh3.